What role do virtues play in Aristotelian virtue ethics, and how do they differ from other ethical theories?

Question

The question prompts students to explore the concept of virtues within Aristotelian virtue ethics and compare them to other ethical theories. It encourages reflection on the role of virtues in moral philosophy and invites analysis of how virtue ethics differs from alternative ethical frameworks.

Answer 1

Virtue ethics is a moral theory that centers around one’s character virtues instead of factors like utility, intention, or societal norms. Aristotle felt that one does not become virtuous by doing a single virtuous act. Rather, one must habituate the correct tendencies. Ideally, these wise habits ought to be instilled during childhood. “A man is not just who does not enjoy acting justly” (Aristotle). To become virtuous, one must practice virtue.

J. S. Mill argued that the consequences of one’s actions are what matters in morality. Kant felt that duty and the intentionality of one’s decisions should reign supreme in his deontology. Nietzsche felt that ethics is essentially individualistic, requiring a vigorous personal inventory. Aristotle’s virtue ethics, on the other hand, treats morality as an ongoing effort. People can live ethical lives by developing ethical tendencies and acting virtuously on a daily basis.

Answer 2

The most important aspect of Aristotle's theory of virtue is the doctrine of the mean. Aristotle thought that all virtues are a mean--or middle point---between two extremes. The two extremes are vices. In other words, having too much of a character trait is just as bad as having too little. For example, courage is a virtue. Having too little courage makes one a coward, which is bad, but also having too much courage makes one rash (or overly bold), which is also bad. Imagine a soldier on a battlefield who rushes into battle with no weapon where they are outnumbered 10 to 1. That is not courage; that is foolishness.

Aristotle believes that all virtues can be understood in the same way. Generosity is a mean between stinginess and munificence; temperance is a mean between having no regard for pleasures and total gluttony.

But this theory is not without potential problems. Consider the virtue of wisdom. Is it really possible to be too wise? Is it a vice to be overly wise? Something to think about!